College Sports Blog

Longhorn Network ratings still in the dump, but Texas game gets high-profile broadcasters

While Texas A&M meets Alabama on CBS in a nationally broadcast time slot, Texas hosts Iowa State at 11 a.m. on the Longhorn Network.

While CBS’ Southeastern Conference time slot averages a national 3.1 rating, LHN has yet to earn a tenth of a ratings point, because of lack of carriage. While ESPN, LHN’s parent, continues to work hard to attract distributors, it has failed to find a single major cable or satellite system to carry the network. Only telecoms Verizon Fios and AT&T U-verse have stepped up.

But give ESPN this: Mike Patrick and Ed Cunningham, relatively high-profile broadcasters, will call Iowa State-Texas. The network is also sending the game over-the-air to six affiliates in Iowa but with Mark Neely and Ray Bentley offering a different, less Longhorn-centric call.